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Mercedes-Benz E500Model year report

2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 Problems

Complaints
50filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
79,000miles, 44 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 5.0L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this 2006 model year most often report a strong gasoline smell in the cabin, especially after refueling, and many of these complaints involve fuel tank, fuel pump, or filter leaks. Air bag warning lights and unexpected air bag deployment, along with sudden brake power loss or loss of vehicle control, are reported less often. Complaints are trending down, and where mileage is listed the fuel smell reports mostly fall between about 50,000 and 100,000 miles.

  1. Fuel system

    Gasoline smell inside the cabin after refueling

    • 24 complaints (48%)
    • median 78,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (23 state mileage)
    • filed 2010–2020

    Owners describe a strong gasoline smell inside the cabin, and sometimes outside the car, most often after refueling or filling the tank. Some say the smell lingers for days or fades only after driving for a while, and others say it returns on each fill-up. According to complaints, mechanics and dealers found a leak or faulty part in some cases, such as a crack in the fuel filter, a faulty tank vent, or a leak at the fuel pump. A complaint describes headaches and dizziness while driving with the smell present, and says the dealer described the odor as not a concern. Reports where mileage is listed range from about 33,000 to 161,000 miles, and most fall between about 50,000 and 100,000.

    What to check: Ask whether the car has been checked for a fuel leak, tank vent fault, or filter crack, and ask for records of any fuel tank, pump, or filter repair. Smell the cabin, rear seat area, and garage after a fill-up, and check whether the odor persists once the tank is partly full.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On 7/23/14, I noticed a strong odor of gasoline emanating from the inside and outside of my car after refueling. I purchased a certified pre-owned w211 2006 mercedes benz E500 from Mercedes-Benz greenway. I researched the issue online and discovered that the gas odor issue I was experiencing may be related to a problem being seen in numerous mercedes benz e-model vehicles. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10621793, filed 2014-08, 161,000 miles

    “I filled the vehicle up a on 5/10/14 and the next day my wife was telling me there was a strong gas odor in and outside of the car. On may 12. 2014 I inspected the vehicle and the gas odor was extremely strong. I looked online for similar problem and they said it was an issue for all mercedes e-class (2006 - 2009). I removed the rear seat and found the leakage at the fuel pump.”

    NHTSA complaint #10594174, filed 2014-05, 76,320 miles
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel leaks at fuel tank, fuel pump, or filter

    • 19 complaints (38%)
    • median 77,500 mi at 7.4 yrs old (18 state mileage)
    • filed 2012–2026

    Owners describe fuel leaking from the fuel tank, the fuel pump assembly, or a fuel filter unit, with some reports of cracks or a disconnected fitting near the pump. Some say the leak was found near the rear seat or under the seat, where the fuel pump is located, and others describe fumes leaking from the tank area. According to complaints, the tank or pump was replaced in some cases, and in others the leak continued after a seal, fitting, or tank repair. A complaint says a leak was not covered because the vehicle VIN was not in a recall, and another says the dealer confirmed a cracked fuel tank. Reports where mileage is listed range from about 40,000 to 92,000 miles, and most fall between about 50,000 and 80,000.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the rear seat area, trunk, and fuel filler area for fuel residue or odor after a fill-up. Ask whether any fuel filter unit or fuel tank warranty extension applies to the vehicle, and ask for records of any fuel tank, pump, or filter repair.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I smelled a strong scent of gas after parking my car yesterday, more prominent in the trunk. I brought my car into mercedes today and was told I had a crack in my fuel filter. I have heard complaints regarding the fuel system and wonder if it is a recall issue. Thank you.”

    NHTSA complaint #10648498, filed 2014-10, 78,000 miles

    “After filling the fuel tank last september I noticed a very strong gasoline smell in the cabin of the vehicle. This happened 2 more times before bringing the vehicle in to my mechanic. He explained that there was a leak at the top of the fuel tank.”

    NHTSA complaint #10509880, filed 2013-04, 75,000 miles
  3. Air bags

    Air bag warning light and unexpected air bag deployment

    Mentioned in 4 of 42 sampled complaints

    Owners describe an air bag warning light that comes on intermittently and later nearly every time the car is driven, and the dealer diagnosed a weight sensor as the problem, with the air bags turned off whenever the light is on. A complaint says the owner was still trying to get the dealer to repair the problem. Other reports describe air bags deploying with no collision, including a tire strike at about 45 mph and a driver-side deployment at about 35 mph with a restraint system malfunction message. A complaint says a recall was not communicated to the owner and that the recall period had expired, so the work was not covered. Where mileage is listed, reports fall between about 82,000 and 144,000 miles, and the warning light is described as coming on nearly every time the car is driven.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Turn the key on and confirm that the air bag light goes out after the self-check, then ask for diagnostic records of any air bag light repair. Ask whether any air bag recall or sensor work is documented, and ask the seller whether the air bag system was checked after any impact.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact wanted to use the email that he sent to the hotline for his complaint. The documented issue occurred when my car turned 8 or 9 years old (2006 mercedes benz E500 in mint condition with 82,000 miles) with the airbag lights intermittedly comes on. Now, it is on nearly every time I drive the car. The dealer diagnosed the problem to be that of a weight sensor, and said whenever the light is on, all airbags are turned off and will not deploy. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10909699, filed 2016-09, 82,000 miles

    “My father and mother were driving back home on the evening of 1/29/25 when all of a sudden they heard a loud pop/explosion and their seat belts tightened. They were traveling at a speed of approximately 35 mph on local roads. There was no accident, collision, or warning signs, but the driver's side airbags, left side of the car, deployed. The message on the odometer said SRS Restraint system malfunction. The car is a 2006 Mercedes E500 with 58,900 miles having one owner and all maintenance performed on time. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11639842, filed 2025-01
  4. Brakes

    Brake power loss or loss of vehicle control

    • 5 complaints (10%)
    • median 70,000 mi at 10.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2006–2018

    Owners describe brake warning lights and a dashboard message about reduced brake power, with the pedal giving little stopping force while the car kept moving. According to a complaint, a restart restored some braking, but the power was lost again while stopping at the dealer. Another complaint describes the steering wheel suddenly becoming very loose and not turning before a crash into a guardrail, and says the reason for the failure was not determined. A complaint about a rear subframe describes a wheel that swayed when the brake pedal was pressed, and says the manufacturer declined help citing water damage. Reports range from about 100 to 117,000 miles, including a brake power report at very low mileage.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask for records of any brake hydraulic unit repair, and whether the brake hydraulic unit warranty extension applies to the vehicle. During a test drive, check for brake warning lights and reduced brake power messages, and ask whether the steering and rear subframe were inspected after any collision.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On january 29, 2016, I was going towards the exit of my development but before I got to a main road (I was traveling slowly about 20 MPH and driving straight) I was using brakes and red message popped up on the dash board stating reduced brake power and to depress bake pedal which I did but the brakes failed and the car kept moving so I let the car move into the curb where there was snow. I turned car off and turned back on and the warning message was no longer displayed and car functioned properly. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10823149, filed 2016-01, 70,000 miles

    “The contact owned a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500. While driving at an unknown speed, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a guardrail. Prior to the crash, the steering wheel suddenly became very loose and failed to turn. The driver sustained neck and back injuries, which did not require medical treatment. A police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11149965, filed 2018-11, 117,000 miles

Buying note. Buyers should pay close attention to any gasoline smell after fueling, and ask for records of fuel tank, fuel pump, or filter repairs, since several reports describe a leak that persisted after repair. Ask the seller whether the air bag warning light stays off at startup and whether any brake warning or reduced brake power messages have been recorded.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 42 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 50 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500. 44 of the complaints include a mileage, and 16% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 79,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 95 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Engine (1), Other or unknown (1), Seat belts (1), Body and structure (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “I began to notice a strong smell of gasoline inside my garage for the past week. Last weekend I was waiting for someone inside my car with the engine running and I felt the strong smell of gasoline. I noticed that the smell decreased somewhat when my gas level went down almost to empty. When I refuel the car the smell got very strong again. I am calling the dealer to make an appointment.”

NHTSA complaint #10584331, filed 2014-04, 75,000 miles

Brakes: “The contact owns a 2006 mercedes benz e class, and stated while driving 30 MPH, all warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over and the brakes were applied, but there was no stopping power. The brakes were applied harder and there was slight power and the vehicle coasted to a stop. The dealership was called and suggested the vehicle be turned off and on to restore braking power. The vehicle was then driven to the dealership. While stopping at the dealership, the brakes lost power again. The dealership determined there was a loose wire in the braking system and repaired the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #10151553, filed 2006-03, 100 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

16% of the 44 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 65,000 and 99,999 miles.

5%0–102%10–259%25–5023%50–7536%75–10023%100–1502%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (44 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 79,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’08’11’138’15’17’19’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
E-Class · sedan RWD/AWDnot rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
E500 RWD5.0L 8-cyl7-speed automatic152318$4,550
E500 4matic 4WD/AWD5.0L 8-cyl5-speed automatic141916$5,150
E500 4matic (wagon) 4WD/AWD5.0L 8-cyl5-speed automatic141816$5,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 95 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 95 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz E500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20065079,0004—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200514099,2503—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200414290,8003—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200312590,6003—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Mercedes-Benz E500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500?

Owners of this 2006 model year most often report a strong gasoline smell in the cabin, especially after refueling, and many of these complaints involve fuel tank, fuel pump, or filter leaks. The issues reported most often: Gasoline smell inside the cabin after refueling; Fuel leaks at fuel tank, fuel pump, or filter; Air bag warning light and unexpected air bag deployment.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 have?

NHTSA recorded 50 consumer complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 29 complaints (58% of the total), followed by air bags with 4.

Has the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 (E500, 5.0L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 reported?

Among the 44 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 79,000 miles and the middle half falls between 65,000 and 99,999 miles; 16% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.